Everyone likes to save money That's why cable TV cord-cutting is such a popular topic here at Tom's Guide, both with our staff and with our readers Last week I wrote about discovering a new way to cut cable TV Since that article went up, a number of readers have told me about another cord-cutting method that allows them to use the local channels and DVR capabilities while on the air [Many of them wrote to me about network TV tuners, especially SiliconDust's HDHomeRun series and Tablo products I didn't know much about them, and maybe you don't either After looking into it, I think it's an even better cord-cutting solution than USB TV tuners, and if you want to watch and record local channels like ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC and watch them on multiple TVs and devices, a network TV tuner may be the best solution

HDTV network tuners have been around for years They connect to an antenna (or cable line) via coaxial cable and to a router via Ethernet cable The tuner receives the digital TV signal from the antenna and distributes it to the home network

This means that all devices using the Wi-Fi network can access the channel Multiple TVs, smartphones, tablets, some game consoles and streaming devices can watch the broadcast They can also connect to personal media servers such as Plex

The great thing about network tuners is that you don't have to figure out how to run coaxial cable from where your antenna is (maybe outside your house) to where your TV is Unless you use a coax splitter, that's just the TV The length of the cable absolutely affects the quality of the TV signal With a network tuner, you have more flexibility because you can place it close to your antenna Tablo's tuners have built-in Wi-Fi, so there is no need to hardwire them to a router

When I wrote last week's cord-cutting article, I wrote it in response to a reader who specifically wanted a USB TV tuner for MacBooks; the options for Macs were more limited than for PCs, and the Tablo's tuner is a good option for MacBooks Network TV tuners have no such problem; HDHomeRun products are compatible with most major devices, including: Windows 10 PCs, Mac computers, laptops, iPhones, Apple TVs, Android phones and tablets, Tablo works with Roku and Chromecast to this list

You'll have to pay for the flexibility and compatibility that network TV tuners offer; the HDHomeRun Flex Duo and Tablo Dual LITE both cost over $100; the four-tuner models are even more expensive

This is a one-time cost, but if you want the program guide and DVR features, you will have to pay an additional monthly or yearly fee

Both the HDHomeRun and Tablo devices come with apps; the HDHomeRun app is free and allows you to watch live channels on multiple devices and view the EPG 24 hours ahead However, if you need DVR service, you will pay a $35 annual subscription

Similarly, Tablo is free, but it is much easier to use the company's TV Guide service; there is a 30-day free trial, but after that it costs $5 per month, $50 per year, or $180 for life The company also offers a subscription to its premium service with advanced DVR features for $2 per month or $20 per year

Calculating long-term costs, network TV tuners can save a lot of money by cutting the cable cord However, since they can only receive broadcast signals, the channel selection is limited Personally, I need some cable channels, which is why I decided to use Sling to get away from cable If you are ok with that, this may be the answer to your cord-cutting dreams